A childhood surrounded by beauty. It was only natural to become interested in it.

—Chico, you're so successful in the beauty world. What was the origin of your journey that led you here?

I grew up with parents who ran a beauty salon, so it was inevitable that I'd be interested in beauty. I was massaging clients at my parents' salon even before I started elementary school (laughs). My mother taught me how. Looking back, my parents must have wanted me to go into the beauty business from the start.

—What a wonderful mother. That's like an early education in beauty.

I enjoyed it myself. Children get a boost when they're praised, like "You're so good" or "You have a natural talent" (laughs). More than anything, it made me truly happy to see someone pleased by what I did. In retrospect, that's where it all began.

—So entering the beauty world was inevitable. What about moving to Paris? Was there a particular trigger?

—What did you study in Paris?

I plunged into Paris with no knowledge of the language. First, I attended a language school while working in a hair salon and studying at an esthetician school. At the time, I was eager to try anything and everything. I felt like there were hints of beauty everywhere in France.

As I delved into my own understanding of beauty, I naturally became interested in natural therapies. I had some knowledge of Asian methods, like traditional Chinese medicine, but I wondered about European approaches. I decided to get certified, which was about three years in. Until then, I had been moving forward somewhat haphazardly, but I finally had a clear goal.

—That's incredible drive. Having a goal really helps you push forward.

I knew I only had one more year, so I put a lot of pressure on myself. I felt I had to achieve something tangible, otherwise, what would I say I did for those three years? Perhaps that was the driving force.

—Your study abroad was for three years. Does that mean you returned to Japan once?

Yes, I returned to Japan and worked in the beauty industry. But day by day, the feeling that France was where I truly belonged grew stronger... It was then that I met a French natural therapist. When I confided in her, she said, 'Why don't you come and stay with me?' I seized the opportunity to study and live with her, and without hesitation, I returned to France. And that brings me to where I am today.

My mission is to spread this self-care method.

—How did SHIGETA's self-care method, "Vitality Coaching®," come into being?

As a therapist, my goal was to improve my clients' physical condition and constitution. While pursuing ways to achieve better results, I realized that simply providing treatments once a week wasn't enough. If a client received treatment once a week, they could achieve even greater effects by caring for themselves for the remaining six days—that's 24 days a month.

It's a simple concept, but incredibly important. So, I immediately started giving self-care advice after treatments.

—And that led to the completion of the method, which is based on four pillars?

Yes. The healing power of plants, daily nutrition, mindful breathing, and self-massage are all methods aligned with the laws of nature that anyone can easily incorporate into their daily lives. Furthermore, to enhance the effectiveness of this self-care method, I created SHIGETA's products.

Everyone is searching for something they want to do. They seek a sense of purpose that brings vitality to life. But I believe you can't achieve that without being healthy. Even if you want to enjoy each day, you can't smile if you don't feel well.

So, thinking about how to help as many people as possible feel good and energetic each day, I realized my role is to spread this method, "Vitality Coaching®." This has led to my current activities, such as seminars, consultations, and product development.

—While you're based in Paris, what prompted you to expand your products to Japan?

It was a series of encounters and the flow of things. The very act of establishing the company was a natural progression (laughs).

I never felt the pressure to do something grand. My desire to spread the method and increase the number of people who feel vibrant naturally evolved into its current form. It felt like meeting the right people, having the right experiences, and seeing things unfold at the right time.

Wonderful people lent me their support. I truly feel blessed.